Safety license tag fastener



Jan. 5, 1937. A. T. PADAVIC, JR 2,066,694

SAFETY LICENSE TAG FA-STENER Filed Nov. 26, 1935 2 Shee1 ;sSheep 1 "(a v v Inverilor I Anion TPada vdc,4/k

g A tlornejg,

' A. T. PADAVI C, JR

SAFETY LICENSE TAG FASTENER Jan. 5, 1937.

Filed Nov. 26, 1935 Inve'nlor An for 7. PardqUiC/f/t Byzg and g A Home}? Patented Jan. 1931 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE I aocasai SAFETY LICENSE TAG ms'ram I Anton T. Padavic, Jr., Quincy, Ill. Application November 2c; 1935, Serial No. 51,668 (Cl. 40-125) 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a structurally distinct locking type bolt and nut fastener of a style and form appropriately classifiable as a safety retention device for conventional license tags and plates used on present day motor vehicles and similar conveyances.

Needless to say, the special classified prior art to which fasteners of this type pertain is appreciably well developed and characterized by many varieties and forms of special fasteners.

Being reasonably wellconversant with the prior by worthy refinement and improvements.

Briefly stated, the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by a bolt expressly designed to accommodate a special spring pressed pawl equipped lock nut, said nut being utilized as a mounting or adapter for a disruptabletamperproof seal possessed of suflicient merit to guardagainst illegal transference of automobile tags.

More explicitly comparative novelty is predicated upon a bolt and nut combination wherein the nut in conjunction with its protective covering or seal is ornamental but primarily constructed to permit unauthorized tampering to be easily and readily detected.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing a fragmentary portion of a license tag, the supporting bracket or fixture therefor, and illustrating the form and general character of the improved safety tag holder or fastening.

Figure 2 is a top or edge view of the assemblage shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional-view, on an enlarged scale, the section being taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure5 is a cross-sectional view of the stem or shank of the unique bolt.

Figure6 is a view showing a modified type of protective shell,'partly in section. usable in connection with the locking nut illustrating how the same may be separated into quick detachable half-sections.

' and Municipal seal of an omcial character.

, The regulation or standard license plate or tag is indicated at B. The special fastener assembly 5 which is shownbetter in Figure 3 and which is designed to cooperate with these conventional parts and I includes an appropriate washer 9 and a complemental bolt in and associated locking nut H. The head H of the bolt is preferably 10 provided with a screw-driver kerf l3. The shank or stem is provided with segmental screw threads I to co-act with the threads of the bore in the nut i I. As better shown in Figure 5, a portion of the periphery of the shank is cut away as indicated at it to define an outstanding keeper rib l6. This rib is in the nature of a cam and designed for appropriate co-action with the spring pressed latch or pawl H. The pawl is in the nature of a pin which projects into the bore of the nut which is itself slidably mounted in a socket. An expansion spring i8 is arranged in the socket and held in place by a flat type screw l9. With this arrangement it is obvious that the nut can be turned on the bolt so as to effectively take hold of the shank to securely clamp the license tag on the hanger fixture. In other words, the nut can be turned home in one direction but cannot be rotated in a retrograde direction. This is due to the fact that the cam i6 permits the turning on one direction but prevents it, turning in the opposite direction as is evidenced. In order to remove the pawl or latch pin I! it is necessary to have access to the screw i9.

Normally the screw is protected and covered by a metallic housing or shell 20. Incidentally the nut as well as the housing may be ornamental, being here shownas of oval configuration. Moreover, the convexed outer portion of the shell as indicated at 2| may be suitably ornamented. As a general rule itis desired to use a Federal, State This is intended to add materially to the safety phase or factor of the invention. The rim of the shell as indicated at 22 is provided with a laterally directed marginal retention flange 23 fitting into a groove in the inner side of the marginal portion of the nut. It is securely clamped in place and prevents access being had to the removable plug screw W. The only way that access can be had to this is to disrupt and remove the shell. In this sense the shell 20 may be unltarily and satisfactorily referred to as a disruptable seal. The appropriateness of this is evidenced when it is taken 55 into consideration that part 20 is of a fragile or disruptable character. Any tampering therewith by unauthorized persons can be readily detected by the authorities.

It is evident that under oridanry circumstances the projecting convex wall 2i 0! the seal 20 may be punctured by a suitable instrument and with the aid of pliers or the like the complete nut enclosing shell can be literally turned off. This is necessary to make the usual annual legal exchange of tags. The State or other authority will provide, according to my ideas, each year a new complete seal with appropriate insignia and identification. In some instances the marginal rim 22 may be provided with legible numerals 24 corresponding to the tag number. This would make it all the more evident to authorities when the seal has been tampered with by unauthorizecl persons. In other words, this feature 24, together with the standardized insignia provides a sort of double check.

I have found it exceedingly practicable in some instances to provide the front wall 2| of the shell (see Figure 6) with a central scored or readily tearable central strip 25. This will be of a malleable character such as is used in the construction of certain commodity cans. Thus by providing a starting tab on the end of the tear-out strip, an end portion thereof as indicated at 26 may be wound around a suitable key 27 to separate the shell into halt-sections in a conventional manner. Then the sectionscan be readily pryed oil to permit access to be had to the nut and the spring-pressed pawl. This is believed to be an ingenious adaptation in a safety seal of the type under consideration.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming within the fields of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having thus described the invention what I cla m is:-

1. As a component part of a fastener assemblage or the class described, a nut provided with a socket, a spring pressed locking pawl mounted in said socket, a plug screw threaded into the outer end of the socket, a disruptable metal protector shell substantially enclosing said nut, said shell having a. rim portion completely surrounding and in direct contact with the periphery of the nut, a retention flange engaging one side of the nut, and a convex wall spaced from the corresponding face or the nut, said wall being adapted to carry identification means, and the marginal rim being adapted to carry identiflcation data.

2. In a structure of the class described, a locknut provided with a spring pressed locking pawl, a protector shell substantially enclosing said nut and rendering said locking pawl inaccessible, said shell being divided by a malleable tear strip into quickly separable sections, said tear strip being constructed to accommodate a coiling and strip removing key to permit the shell to be separated into sections and to allow authorized removal from the nut to permit access to be had to the locking pawl.

3. As a component part of a fastener assemblage-oi the class described, a lock-nut provided in its periphery with a socket, a spring pressed locking pawl mounted for reciprocation in said socket, a plug screw threaded into the outer end of said socket and accessible on the peripheral'rim oi the nut, and a disruptable protector shell virtually enclosing said nut therein, the shell-having a rim portion in direct contact with the rim of the nut to normally cover and render inaccessible said plug screw.

4. A fastener assemblage of the class described, comprising a nut provided with a locking means and a disrupta' ble shell over said nut adapted to render saidlocking means inaccessible except by disrupting the shell, said shell having a malleable tear fstrip constructed to accommodate a coiling key, whereby the shell may be separated into quickly removable sections.

ANTON T. PADAVIC, JR. 

